Flare pistol



9 J. M. SHERRER ETAL 2,

FLARE PISTOL 'original Filed June 29, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN M. SHERBEB.

GLEN E. SEVEEA/V E INVENTORS 'Pf/El/M S. HUNT/NG'TO/V' Nov. 21, 1944-.

J. M. SHERRER ET AL FLARE PI STOL Original Filed June 29, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN M. SHEERER GLEN 1e. SE I/EEANCE y 'To EPl/fiJ/M S. HUNTING-TON BY Z %TORNEY Nov.-21, 1944. J. 7M. SHERRER ET AL 3 FLARE PISTOL Original Filed June 29, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 JOHN M. SHEEEER .I GLEN ,e. SEVERANCE'M EM 6P/IE4IM s uuur/waro Patented Nov. 21, 1944' FLARE PISTOL John M. Sherrer, Glen R. Severance, and Ephraim S. Huntington, Detroit, Mich, assignors to Eureka Mich, a

Original application 448,920. Divided Vacuum Cleaner Company, Detroit, corporation of Michigan June 29, 1942, Serial No. and this application August 14, 1943, Serial No. 498,910

Claims.

This invention relates to pistols and has particular reference to a novel and improved construction of hand pistol which is particularly adapted, although not limited, for firing flare, signal and other types of shells.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pistol.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved construction of flare pistol.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved form of firing mechanism for a trigger operated hand pistol.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively light weight hand operated pistol which is particularly adapted for shooting flare, signal, and the like type of ammunition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved type of construction for hand pistols and which construction is particularly adapted to the manufacture of the pistols on a quantity production basis and in accordance with the assembly technique of manufacturing.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which there are three sheets and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a flare pistol embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view with parts broken away and others shown in section and illustrating the firing mechanism;

Fig, 3 is a horizontal section taken in a plane along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a partial front elevational view of the pistol with some parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the parts of the firing mechanism in a different position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating the details of the breech lock and safety mechanism;

Fig. 7 is another view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the firing mechanism just before the hammer is released; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the barrel and its mounting and illustrating the details of the shell ejector.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration and as disclosed in Fig. 1, the flare pistol includes a barrel 20 having lugs 22 thereon by means of which the pistol may be mounted if desired in a suitable recoil mechanism provided on a plane, ship, or other device in connection with which it is desired to use the flare pistol. A latch mount 24 also may be provided for latching the pistol against accidental separation from the recoil mounting. The pistol further includes a body upon which the barrel 2!] is pivotally mounted, said body being provided with a handle 26 and forming a housing for the firing mechanism which is actuated by the trigger 28. The barrel 20 is held in position with the breech closed by a breech lock 30 as will be more fully explained hereafter.

The barrel has secured thereto a hinge member 32 (Fig. 2) which is pivoted on a stud pin 34 carried by a U-shaped projection 36 at the forward end thereof. The hinge member 32 is received within the bifurcations of the projection 36 (Fig. 4) and together with the pin 34 forms a pivotal mounting for the barrel 20 which, from the position illustrated in Figs, 2 and '5, is adapted to swing in a clockwise direction so as to open the breech. The rear end of the barrel when the breech is closed is positioned next to the breechblock 38 and in such a way as to form a closed chamber in which a flare or other type of shell may be fired. The breech lock 30 is pivotally mounted on a pin 40 affixed to the barrel and is provided with shoulders 42 on each side thereof which are adapted to engage the rear side of the breechblock 38 on opposite sides of an upwardly opening slot 44 formed in the rim of the breechblock 38, that part of the breech lock 30 which passes through the slot 44 being reduced in crosssection so as to form theshoulders 42. As illustrated in Fig.6, the breech lock 30 may be released by pressing upwardly on the end thereof so as to disengage the shoulders 42 from the breechblock 38. As soon as the breech lock is released, the barrel may be tilted or swung about its pivot 34 so as to expose the rear end of the barrel in order to place a shell therein or remove a shell therefrom, as will be explained more fully hereafter.

The body of the pistol is formed of a frame casting 46, the outside contour of which defines the shape of the piston except for the barreLZD and the trigger guard 48. The frame casting is hollow and formed to provide the U-shaped forwardly extending projection 36, the breechblock 38, and the handle 26, the sides of which are covered by oppositely disposed grips 50 removably secured to the frame 46 by a bolt and nut assembly 52 as illustrated in Fig. 3. Above the handle grips 50 the sides of the frame casting 46 are covered by cover plates 54 which are suitably secured to the frame casting 46 and cooperate therewith. to define a chamber or enclosure for housing the firing mechanism. The ejector mechanism is arranged forwardly of the trigger 23 and is concealed by forwardly projecting portions 56 of the cover plates 54 and which portions 56 also conceal the U-shaped projection 36 of the frame casting 46.

A firing pin bushing 58 is secured in an opening in the breechblock 38 coincident with the axis of the barrel 20 and is retained in place by a retainer 60 arranged in a suitable recess in the forward face of the breechblock 38. the retainer 60 and the end of the bushing 58 are threaded for cooperation together in order to secure the bushing at the rear of the block 38 is enlarged and seats around the opening in the block. The bushing 58 forms a guide for and carries the firing pin 62, a part of which is enlarged to form a radial flange 64 which slides in the bushing 58. A spring 66 is confined in the bushing between the flange 64 of the firing pin and a seat 68 formed internally of the bushing and is adapted nor-- mally to position the firing pin so that the end thereof does not project beyond the forward face of the bushing 58 or block 38. A pin or stop carried by the rear end of the bushing 58 projects into the opening therein and engages the fiange 64 for limiting the rearward movement of the firing pin under the action of spring 66.

The rear end of the firing pin is provided with a head I2 which is adaptedto be struck by a hammer I4 pivoted at I6 on a cross pin carried by the cover plates 54. The hammer I4 normally is positioned as illustrated in Fig. 2 by a spring I8 carried by a crosspin 80, which in turn is carried by the cover plates 54 and by arm 94 as hereinafter explained.

The trigger 28 is pivoted at 82 to a cross pin The hole in bushing 58 in position. The end of the.

carried by the U-shaped projection 36. One end of a trigger slide 84 .is pivotally connected at 86 to one end of the trigger so as to be moved thereby, the other end of the slide being mounted and guided by inwardly extending guides 88 formed integrally with cover plate liners 90 arranged between each of the cover plates 54 and the frame casting 46. A spring 92 suitably mounted in the handle 26 engages one end of the slide 84 for biasing the same into the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 2. In this figure note that the slide is provided with an arm 04 which engages the hammer I4 above the pivot I6 for holding the same in the position illustrated. The slide 84 has pivotally connected thereto a trigger pawl 96 pivoted on a pin 98 carried by the slide 84 and a spring I00 biases the leading edge I02 of the pawl upwardly so as to engage the lower end I04 of the hammer upon movement of the slide 84 when the trigger 28 is pulled backwardly by the finger of an operator.

Fig. 5 illustrates the relative position of the parts of, the firing mechanism when the trigger has been partially pulled back, and Fig. '7 illustrates the relative position of the parts of the firing mechanism just before the pawl 93 is disengaged from the end I04 of the hammer. The pawl 96 is provided with an arm I06 which upon movement of the pawl 96 from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 to that illustrated, in Fig. '7 engages a trip I08 carried by the cover plates 54, the trip I38 being positioned so that after the hammer spring I8 is sufficiently compressed and the hammer I4 retracted sufficiently, the pawl 96 will disengage itself from the end of the hammer, thereby permitting the spring I8 to act on the hammer I4 and cause it to strike the head I2 of the firing pin, which in turn is adapted to strike the detonator of the shell positioned within the barrel 20. As soon as the pawl 96 passes to the right of the end I04 of the hammer, the spring I8 will move it as previously described in order to strike the firing pin 62. 'When the trigger 28 is released the spring 92 acting through the slide 84 will return the trigger to its normal position and the spring I00 will allow the end I04 of the hammer to depress the end I02 of the pawl 96 so as to permit the pawl 96 to be returned to its normal position.

A trigger guard 48 may be suitably secured to the frame of the pistol in order to protect the trigger 28 thereof. After the shell in the barrel 20 has been fired, the breech must be opened, which, as previously explained, is accomplished by raising the breech lock 30 in order to separate the shoulders 42 from the rim of the breechblock 38. The breech-lock 30 acts on a safety lever I I2, pivoted at I I4, when the barrel is closed and holds the end II6 out of engagement'with the hammer, as illustrated in Figs. 2, 5, and 6. However, when the breech lock 30 is released, it is separated from the upper end of the lever [I2 and thereby permits a spring IIB acting on the lever H2 to force the end II6 thereof down into the path of movement of the hammer I4, thereby locking the same against retraction and providing a safety for the pistol when the breech is open. r

After the barrel is closed and the breech lock 30 returned to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the safety lever II2 will be moved out of the path of movement of the hammer I4. When the breech lock 30 is released, the barrel 20 may be swung in a clockwise direction about the pivot 34 so as to remove the spent shell therefrom and to insert a new shell. If the barrel 20 is mounted in a recoil mount, the barrel 20 may remain staslots between the projection 36 and the forward portions 56of the cover plates 54 for accommodating the bifurcations of the slide I20. The rear end of the barrel 20 on the under side thereof is notched as indicated at I22 to accommodate a setoif or projection I24 formed integrally with the slide I20, the projection I24 including an upwardly extending finger or member I26 which as illustrated is adapted to project into the annular groove of a shell located in the barrel. The slide I20 at its forward end is provided with a pin I32 projecting laterally therefrom and which pin I32 projects into suitable holes formed in the projection 36 and the parts 56 of the cover plates 54. The pin I32 is free to turn in such holes but is confined against movement relative to the pivot 34. A spring I34 secured to the pin I32 and passing between another pin I36 carried by hinge member 32 and the upper part of the hinge member 32 is adapted to act on the projection I24 and finger I26 of the ejector so as to urge the same upwardly through the slot I22 in the wall of the barrel. This is possible due to the pivotal mounting for slide I20 provided by pin I32.

emesezos Without any :shell 3 in the :barrel 320 the projection 1.24 and :Jfinger 1!:26 nonnallyw uld: be positioned by spring I134. mthe iposition illustrated; in Fig. 8, in which position the finger iliZ-S projects inwardly into thebore of 'barrel In..-Figs.'2,

4, 5, Land .lrthe projection .124 and fingerilllfisare illustrated .in approximately :the .position such parts assume when a British :typent-shelhis in ban'ellzfl.

.The' hinge-:memberfilis cut lawa-ytoiiform asmt [.38 so :that the hinge rmem'ber .32 :and abarrel may swing; allimitedcamount ;relative to .themivot 34 without interference from-the pin: l3 2. 'Aslthe .pin forming the pivot .34 and :the pin H312 are both carried by the same parts, namely ,theatorward projection :36 of .the frame casting, it is .evident that when the barrel .520 is swung in a clockwise direction about'thezpivot 34 re1ative to the body of the pistol or vice versa, the finger I26 of the ejector will move rearwardly relative to the barrel and will extract the shell therefrom. In this position the shell may be grasped and re moved from the barrel and another shell placed therein. Upon relative movement of the barrel 20 and the body of the pistol in a direction op- I stampings. The pistol herein disclosed is adapted to shoot a shell having a diameter of approximately 1 inches and a length of approximately 4 inches, and due to the extensive use of stampings in the assembly, the over-all weight of the pistol is not in excess of 2 /2 pounds.

While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purpose of illustration only and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claims.

This application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 448,920, filed June 29, 1942, for Flare pistol, the claims of said aDDlication being directed toward the firing pin assembly of the firing mechanism, while the claims of the present application are directed to the trigger slide hammer mechanism of the firing mechanism.

We claim:

1. Firing mechanism for a gun comprising a breech block, a firing pin operatively associated with said breech block, a hammer adapted to strike said firing pin for actuating the same, a pivot for said hammer, a hammer spring actin on said hammer, a trigger slide havin a member thereon, a trigger connected to said slide, a spring resisting movement of said slide by said trigger in one direction and adapted normally to position said trigger and slide. said member on said slide. upon movement thereof in said direction by said trigger, being engageable with a part of said hammer for retracting the same against the tension of said hammer spring and upon further movement in the same direction being adapted to release said hammer thereby permitting said hammer spring to expand and cause the hammer to strike the firing pin, and an arm on said trigger iberron said slide,;upon movement thereof in said,

slide. engageable with:- said: hammer: for movingthe "same out of contact with said firing lpin and against said hammer. spring when'the: triggerafter being releasediiszmoved .inithe opposite .direction by said spring.

2.. .Firing :mechanism for :a pistol comprising a breech :block, :a'firing pin operatively associated with said breech :block, a hammer adapted to strike said firing pin for actuating rthe same,.a .pivot :for: said .hammer, ashammer spring actin :onsaid hammer, a'trigger slidehavinga member pivoted :thereon, a trigger connected to one end .of 'saidslide, a spring actingon'the :other end of said slide for resisting movement of said s1ide=by said triggerin one direction and adapted normally. to position'said trigger and slide, said memdirection :by said :trigger, being engageable with :a part of said hammer 'for retracting thesame against the tension of said hammer spring, means cooperable with said member upon further movement of said slide in the same direction to release said member from said-hammer thereby permitting said hammer spring to expand and cause the hammer to strike the firing pin, and means on said trigger slide engageable with said hammer for moving the same out of contact with said firing pin and against said hammer spring when the trigger after being released is moved in the opposite direction by said spring.

3. Firing mechanism for a pistol comprising a breech block, a firing pin operatively associated with said breech block, a hammer adapted to strike said firing pin for actuating the same, a pivot for said hammer, a hammer spring acting on said hammer, a trigger slide arranged below said hammer and having means thereon adapted to engage a part of said hammer below said pivot, a trigger connected to said slide, a spring resisting movement of said slide by said trigger in one direction and adapted normally to position said trigger and slide, said member on said slide, upon movement thereof by said trigger, being engageable with said part of said hammer for retracting the same against the tension of said hammer spring and upon further movement in the same direction being adapted to release said hammer thereby permitting said hammer spring to expand and cause the hammer to strike the firing pin, and an arm on said trigger slide engageable with said hammer above said pivot for moving said hammer out of contact with said firing pin and against said hammer spring after the trigger has been pulled and released.

4. Firing mechanism for a breech loading pistol having a hollow handle, a breech block and a barrel in front of said breech block, a firing pin operatively associated with said breech block, said hollow handle providing a chamber for housing at least part of the firing mechanism which includes, a hammer adapted to strike said firing pin for actuating the same, a pivot for said hammer and arranged below said firing pin, a hammer spring acting on said hammer about its pivot, a trigger slide disposed below said hammer and having a member thereon adapted to engage a part of said hammer below its pivot, a trigger connected to the forward end of said slide. a spring resisting movement of said slide by said trig er in one direction and adapted to position said trigger and slide when said trigger is released, said member on said slide, upon forward movement thereof by said trigger, being engageable with said part of said hammer for retracting the same against the tension of said hammer spring and upon further movement in the same direction being adapted to release said hammer thereb permitting said hammer spring to expand and cause the hammer to strike the firing pin, and an arm on said trigger slide engageable with said hammer for moving the same out of contact with said firing pin and against said hammer spring after the trigger has been pulled and released.

5. A pistol comprising a barrel, a firing pin 10 operatively associated with the rear endof said barrel, a hammer adapted to strike said firing pin for actuating the same, a pivot for said hammer,

a hammer spring acting on said hammer, a trigger slide having a'pawl thereon, a trigger connected to the forward end of said slide, a spring resisting movement of said slide by said trigger in a forward direction and acting thereon normally to position said trigger and slide when said 15 released.

trigger is released, said pawl, upon forward movement of said slide when the trigger is pulled, being engageable with a part of said hammer for retracting the sam against the tension of said hammer spring, a trip operable upon further movement of said slide in the same direction; to disengage said pawl from said hammer, thereby to release said hammer for permitting said hammer spring to expand and cause the hammer to strike the firing pin, and an arm on said trigger slide forwardly of said pawl and engageable with said hammer for moving the same out of contact with said firing pin and against said hammer spring after said trigger has been pulled and JOHN M. SHERRER. GLEN R. SEVERANCE. EPHRAIM S. HUNTINGTON. 

